Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-25
ATIFFINAN ART GALLERY
MRS. PARAN STEVENS SUED FOR
DAMAGES


E,.op, the Ne1c York ReldN, FEB. ss.
6rs Paran Stevens was defendant in q
anti brought to trial yesterday before
nudge Beach, holding Part 8, supreme
court Circuit. The plaintiff was Miss
sauie ]. Gibbons, who formerly kept
store tor The sale OF pictures at NO. llbO
broadway. This building is portion OF
the Stevens estate. On Feb. p, 1884, Mrs.
stavens visited the place and, Miss Glib
hons claims, that obliyious OF the rela-
,atious existing between landlord and
tonant Mrs. Stevens treated her IN the
cost violent and abusive manner, so VIC
liant and abusive indeed that she was
compeled to invoke the aid of the police
N rid herself OF her obnoxious presence.
She declared that, as result OF this ousl-
meas. her business was badly broken up,
and she therefore claims $4,000 damages.
IN the contrary. Mrs. Stevens insists
that her conduct on the occasion in ques-
lion was thoroughly ladylike; that she
nsed no harsh expressions; that there
was no occasion for calling the police,
and that there is no POSSIBLE mathemati-
raj calculation in morals, manners or
fgures iustitying any claim for damages.
Roth ladies told their stories at length on
tho witness stand, but more diametrical-
Iv onnosing allegations are seldom utter
Cd in a court of justice. All the testi-
mony was submitted, and on Wedne sday
Morning the couusel-Mr. Samuel Ash
ton. representing Miss Gibbons, and Mr..
Eugene 7. Daily, appearing Tor Mrs.
.keyens-will sum up ana the case then
Ngiven to the jury.
MEDLEY OF CHANGES.
The charges set forth in Miss Gibbons
comnlaint are somewhat multifarious in
character, and all of them, it is hardly
necessary to state, are most emphatically
denied by Mrs, Stevens. One OF Miss Glib
hons' charges was that Mrs. Stevens
made an "unlawfuP trespass on her
PREMISES, another that she 'created great
fnmult, disorder and confusion" and
onother that she was guilty of "abuse
and assault" and still another that she
"held her up to public contempt and ridi-
cule." When The case was called for
trial Judge Beach said that one of these
causes of action should be chosen, and it
was agreed TO contine the charge to that
OF tlespass.
SHE KISSED AND TORE AND SwORE.
Apparently this preliminary arrange
ment must have been satisfactory to Miss
Gibbons, for when she was called as Il
witness she came up smiling. She is
maiden lady OF about 80, tall, stout and
with massive features. She wore long
eealskln cloak trimmed with light colored
fur. Her counsel allowed her to begin
her story in medias res.
Q-What was the first thing Mrs. Stevens
did when she came into your place? A-She
hl sed IN nv ear.
Q-What else did she do? Alt is hard tell
ing what she did do: she tore and she swore,
and she was abusive in every way, and
threatened to put me into the street. l sent
for an officer, and two of them came in.
Q-What did you say to Mrs Stevens then?
Al told her if she did not go out l would
have the officers arrest her.
Q-What did she say to that? A-She said /:
DO you know who | amp l said: ION.
yes; know who you are" l looked toward
the officers and told them to take her out of
my place, but they hesitated. | told them if
they did not remove her l would send for
Capt. Williams. birs. Stevens remarse ed:
my friend, Capt. Williams, won't do any
thing against me-" Meantime large crowd
I began to assemble about the place.
Q-What was the final result2 Airs.
| Stevens left, one officer going in front of her
and another gong behind her.
AROARING LION.
Q-What was Mrs. stevens manner when
| she came inp A-She came in like a roaring
in-mOre like an insane woman than any
| thing else.
Q-How did she approach your A-Iwas
taking my lunch at the time; she said she
would spend her life to ruin me. She said
she was going to put me out of the place. l
,ald: "Ihese are my promises, you have no
business here"
Q-What vas Mrs. Stevens reply. A-She
made use of language that will not repeat.
IN response TO further inquiries Miss
1IOOons was asked to characterize the
language used by Mrs. Stevens, but the
question was objected to and the objec-
ION sustained. She stated that Mrs.
stevens had formerly been on friendly re-
auons with her; that she had attended
ler receptions, and that she had paid her
nCt less than So, 900 for rent.
MISS Gibbons was cross-eXamined by
Mt. DAILY at great length. The only ma
eIIal new facts brought out were that
Mss gibbons paid $4,000 rent for her
pace, and that she was behind in her rent
a. =. tle time when the visit was made by
MS stevens, but that the same was COW
eIed by chattel mortgage on tie pictures
In her place.
Dld many come to your place after
s 10 make inquiries about this little
aaS,r r. was one OF the questions asked
ny Mr.. DAILY.
nj, voVer 800 society people," was the re-
wv
Tome to condole with you, l supposeY'
ihey came to find out what the trouble
vas about"
BIG, BIG D.
JACOB Miller was next examined. He
ssu he was an attendant at Miss 9Th.
s,ns ART gallery, aud shortly after Mrs.
ZEN. .e,ens came into the place a great
c.O"u gathered about, and there was
toI Tat excitement. He heard Mrs. Stevens
alA'nR In very loud tone OF voice.
ss9 Dla you hear anything Mrs. Stevens
Nm hh-ledru her say 20 Miss Gibbons
noe usmned If l don't put you out"
0 HE SOLD HIMSELF, AND GOT SOLD.
nv e'naps as remarkable testimony as
Nv. brought out on the trial was that
'a oy the next witness, Thomas Shan
on %at mat time porter In Mise Glib
ss,J. pIoy' ana a very rough specimen
Fas H young America. His testimony
nsg ' ,s ne recently called with n young
on,i amen hoWe, who was In Miss Glib.
ist pace at the time Of Mrs. Stevens
up e ~ sne Islteps residence on Fifth ave-
ekeIs tnaG she agreed TO buy for him
M az, 10 TerTe Haute, Ind. and give
m s0O In money il he would leave on tho
o Itu mat night. Subsequently nm an.
os J% ', was given to him with the rail
MIS- S Sckets In 1t, but only IS % in money.
bo ia ~. not come up to the contract. and
Iss S Sent and told the whole thing To
el sDSaa ulllt, tnen, you tried to sell your-
81 Az Az was asked on cross-examination.
ponse. was 'ue unoiushing re-
Of T an,l,, IS the other young manY,
b vi,h know; he promised TO swhack